Mercury separator



Patented An 7, T923.

JEROME HAVERLY, OFQAKLrKND, Ci- LLIE'ORNTA.

IIIERCUBY SEPARA'I'OR.

Original application filed April 1919, Serial No.

' Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Mercury Separators (thesame being a division of my copending application filed Apr. 2, 1919,Serial No. 286,954), of which the followii'ig is specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in mercury separators,and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improveddevice of this general character especially designed and adapted for usein connection with tailings or placer material.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improveddevice of this general character including an amalgam box havingcoacting therewith means for forcing the auriferous or other valuebearmaterial below the mercury surface to assure the desiredseparationof the values.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved mercuryseparator whereby certain important advantages are attained and thedevice rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenientand advantageous for use, as will. be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed. I

In order that my invention may be the better understood, 1 will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation illustrating an amalgam boxconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 22of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in top plan of the amalgambox as hereindisclosed with the feed members omitted.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, A. denotes a substantiallyhorizontal amalgam box of desired depth and having a rearward and upwardinclined extension 1. The extension 1 is of a depth less than Serial no;399,538.

."fiivided and this application filed July 28,

the depth of the box A proper and has its; upper or rear portion freeand unobstructed and defined by a depending flange 2.

Secured to the forward portions of t walls 3 of the box ['1 are theupwai rected standards 4 provided at their upper ends with the boxings 5which rotatably support the opposite end portions of shaft 6 extending ltudinally of the box A. The front longitudinal wall 7 of the box A isprovided with a plurality of spaced and inwardly directed blocks 8 toeach of which is held b a clamp 9 a vertically disposed feed cylinder orpipe 10. Each of the cylinders or pipes 10 is open at its opposite endsand the lower end portion ofsaid cylinder or pipe extends below themercury level a of the box A but is spaced from the bottom 11 of thebox. The opposite or up per end portion of the cylinder or pipe 10terminates a distance above the box A but below the shaft 6.

The opposite end portions of each of the cylinders or pipes 10 havedisposed radially thereacross the members or bearings 12 which rotatablysupport the opposite end portions of the vertically disposed shaft 14;of a spiral S. The spiral S snugly fits within the feed chamber betweenthe members or bearings 12 and its direction of rotation is such as toforce downwardly the auriferous or other value bearing materialdelivered within the upper end of the cylinder or pipe 10 so that suchmaterial will be positively forced below the mercury level a to assurethe separation of the values from the material.

The upper end portion of each of the shafts 1a is operatively connectedthrough the medium of the bevel gears 15 with a shaft 6 so that uponrequisite rotation of the shaft 6, all of the spirals S will be causedto operate in unison. The shaft 6 may be driven in any desired mannerbut preferably in accordance with the construction and arrangement ofparts disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 288,954, filedshaft 19, said shaft 19 being disposed longitudinally of the. box Aexteriorly thereof and supported for rotation by the outstandingbearings 20 secured to the front wall 75. The shaft 19 is adapted to becoupled in any desired; manner with a suitable source 01 power and whichconnection generally in dicated by the sprocket 21.

Arranged rearwardly of the feed pipes 10 and above the box A is a spraypipe for the purpose of thinning the waste or tailings as the same riseto the top of the mercury within the boX A to facilitate the feedin ofthe same to the shaking pan (not shown V I also find it of advantage toprovide the forward portion of the box A with a collecting well (32provided with a normally. closed opening 63 so that the collected valuesmay be readily withdrawn therefrom;

From the foregoing description it ,is

thought to be obvious that a mercury separator constructed in accordancewith my invention 1s particularly well adapted for use by reason of theconvenience and facility ate d,

with which it maybe assembled and oper and it will also be obvious thatmy invention is susceptible of some change and modification withoutdeparting from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason Ido not wish to be understood as limiting myself to toe precisearangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carryingout my in vBl'lillOD' in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

1 claim V g A separator of the character described comprising anelongated amal'gambox having a side wall and end walls, a plurality ospaced cylinders disposed in engagement with the inner face the sidewall of the box, the opposite side portion of said box being open, saidbox having. stepped and inwardly inclined bottom, the longitudinalportion of the bottom only immediately beneath the lower ends oi. thecylinders being formed into a trough, said stepped bottom extending fromthe inner edge of the trough to the open side portion of the box, "thetrough having an outlet, and means movable in said cylinders for forcingmatter into the trough of said bottom;

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

JEROME HAVERLY.

